Container transfer apparatus



June 1l, 1935. wl HANK|NS ET AL 2,004,095

CONTAINER TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l IIIHIHTkIIIIIHIIIIHIH WiWi/@Mwah fifi/ms,

@W www/VHS June 1l, 1935. F. w. HANKlNs ET AL CONTAINER TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1935 4 Sheets-sheet 2 I N VEN TOI June 11, 1935. F, W, HANKINS ET AL 2,004,095

CONTAINER TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 3 FIG- IPIC?- .9 l Q .--yl-v//l- I k /z' TTORNE YS.

June l1, 1935. F. w. HANKlNs ET AL 2,004,095

4 CONTAINER TRANSFER PPARTUS Filed Aug. 17. 1933 4 Sheetshee't 4 mi# f# W1 TNESSES: I N VEN TOR 5 e TToRNE-Ys.

Patented June l1, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,004,095 CONTAINER TRANSFER APPARATUS Frederick W. Hankins, Philadelphia,

and Frederick K. Fildes, Altoona, Pa. Application August 17, 193s, serial No. 685,522

14 Claims.

to apparatus for transnot available.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient means the vehicle tainer.

Another object of the invention is to provide container transfer apparatus which is readily movable to a position alongside the vehicle to be unit and vehicle, and a container supporting carriage adapted for movement alongsaid bridging trackway.

Another object of this invention is to provide in apparatus of the character described means for adjusting the level of the transfer unit with ing drawings. Of the drawings:

Fig. I represents a plan view of transfer apparatus of my invention, showing a typical arplatform, railway track and truck runway to which the invention is well adapted.

Fig. II represents an enlarged side elevation of the transfer apparatus operating to shift containers between a railway car and a trailer.

Fig. III represents an enlarged side elevation of the transfer apparatus operating to shift containers from the transfer apparatus to a trailer.

Fig. IV represents an enlarged plan view ofthe transfer apparatus with its parts extended over a railway car.

Fig. V represents an end elevation of the transfer apparatus.

Fig. VI represents a plan view of the transfer apparatus with parts broken away to better disclose important features.

Fig. VII represents a cross section, taken as indicated by the lines VII-VII of Fig. I.

Fig. VIII represents a detailed side view of the skid of the transfer apparatus in its extended position showing a portion of the turntable in section, indicated by the lines VIII-VIII in Fig. IV.

Fig. IX represents a detailed side view of the skid of the transfer apparatus previous to complete extension.

Fig. X represents a, plan view of one of the corners of the transfer apparatus; and

Fig. In represents a cross section taken as indicated by the lines XI-XI of Fig. V.

With particular reference to Fig. I, there is represented in the drawings a typical transfer station arrangement to which this invention may be applied to advantage. The transfer apparatus is comprehensively designated at I, and moves along a track formed of spaced parallel rails 2. At one side of the rails 2 and parallel therewith, 30 there is shown a section of railway track 3 with cars 4 thereon carrying shipping containers 5. At the other side of the rails 2 and parallel therewith, there is an elevated platform 6 and a truck runway 1 in which space we have shown convention- 35 ally a trailer vehicle 8. An additional railway track is represented at 3a having a dead end adjacent to the truck runway 1. On the railway track 3a there is shown a car 4a with containers 5a thereon. It will, of course, be understood that the above transfer station arrangement is simply representative of a typical practice of our nvention, and that many other arrangements are embraced within the invention.

With reference to Figs. IV-XI, wherein the transfer apparatus is shown in detail, it will be seen that this apparatus comprises generally a main frame 9, rectangular in shape and mounted on flanged wheels l 0 which engage the rails 2, and an adjustable platform l i mounted on the frame 9 50 by means of hydraulic jacks I2. On the platform I l, which in the illustrated example is rectangular and made up of channel beams, there is mounted a turntable I3 having spaced parallel grooves I4 thereon which normally house a skid i 5. 'Ihe 55 skid I5 comprises generally a pair of parallel rails I6 guided for movement along the grooves `I 4 of the turntable I3 and adapted to be extended outwardly beyond the turntable to a position overlying either the railway track 3, the railway track 3a, the station platform 6 or the truck runway 1,s depending upon the location of the transfer unit I and the position of its turntable I3. A container supporting carriage I1 with anged rollers I8 is mounted for movement on the skid rails I6 as well as on the raised surfaces I9 adjacent to the grooves `I4 of the turntable I3 which form therewith a trackway for the rollers I8.

The transfer unit I may, of course, be constructed in many different forms. :Essentially its main frame 9 must be rugged andvsuiciently strong to support the superimposed weight of va loaded container, and accordingly, channel beams of conventional form are preferably used for its construction. At the four corners of the frame 9 are mounted the hydraulicjacks I2, each of which includes a rodZI fwhichfjoins the elevated platform II with a pivotal'connection 10 to allow tilting of the platform Ito a slope of about three degrees in a direction transverse to the rails 2.

This pivotal connection 10, clearly shown in Fig. XII, is a mechanical expedient well known in the art, and consists of a rounded head 1 I and spud 12 formed at the top of the rod 2|, and aA socket 13 formed in the corners ofthe platform I I. The radius ofthe curve of the head 1I is smaller than the radius of the curve of the socket 13; and this, withlthe clearance for the spud 12 as indicated, allows I'a tilting of the platform 1I three degrees and ten minutes. Each pair of hydraulic jacks- I2 at each side of the frame 9 is connected to a pump 22 disposed at that side of the frame, see Figs. II and IV. In` an obvious manner by operating one pump'22 or the other the platform I I may be inclined in the desired direction transversely o-f the rails 2.

A circular beveled track 23 with a geared periphery 24 is mounted at the top of the platform II and has at'its center abearing 25 which receives a vertical shaft 26 of the turntable I3 about which the turntable rotates, see Fig. VI. The turntable I3 may be made of Welded plates, or may be cast in one piece, and is provided at the under side thereof with beveled rollers 21 disposed radially and adapted to roll freelyon the raceway afforded by the track 23. Rotation of the turntable I3 is accomplishedjby means of a spur gear 28 mounted on` the turntable and meshing `witlii the gear teeth 24 on .the periphery of the circular track 23. The spur gear 28 isinturn, driven through -bevelI gears 30 and a shaft 3| which terminates in a nut-shaped end 32 to which a similarly shaped socket of a hand crank may be applied, see Figs. VI and XI.

The parallel grooves I4 at the top surface of the turntable I3 extend throughout the length of the table and are most clearly illustrated in Figs. IV, VII, VIII and IX. At the bottom of each groove I4 there is a flat surface 33 upon which rollers 34 attached to the skidrails I6 are adapted to travel. The skid rails I6 are of channel shaped formation and Vwhen housed within the grooves I4are disposed with their top surfaces beneath the level of the raised surfaces I9 upon which the carriage rollers I8 bear, Figs. VII-IX. The centrally flanged rollers I8 of the carriage I1 ride outon the skid rails I6 when in their extendedposition, and when the skid rails I6 are on the turntable, the rollers I8 bear entirely upon the surfaces I9 adjacent to the grooves I4, and are clear of the skid rails I6. Accordingly when the carriage I1 is on the turntable I3, the skid rails I6 may be freely moved,y

.riage I1V will roll smoothly from one surface to the other when the skid rails I6 are extended and sloped either away from or toward the turntable.

Moreover, in order to bring the inner ends of the skid rails I6 to a level with the rolling surfaces I9 when the skid is extended, so that the carriage I1 can roll smoothly from one surface to the other, the bottovmgsurfaces 33 of the grooves I4 are raised at the outer ends of the grooves by the insertion' of plates 39 with inclined surfaces 40 leading thereto. Theplates 39 are so disposed as to preserve kthe unhampered or free movement of the skid rails I6 when the carriage I1 is on the turntable I3, as clearly shown in Figs. VII and IX.

Because of the restrictions on the space available `between the bottom of a raised container and the carrier platform, the carriage I1 is constructed with its rollers I8 mounted Well up Within the beams 42 of which the frame of the carriageis constructed, and the beams 42 are reduced to a minimum height consistent with the strength required to support a loaded container. Torestrain the carriage I1 from running off the skid I5, the cross piece 43 which joins the outer ends of the skid rails I6 is raised to provide a stop, Fig. VIII. Moreover, on the turntable I3 there are raised abutments 44 which serve as stops limitingthe movement of the carriage in the opposite direction, Figs. IV and V.

The skid I5 is extended and retrieved by a hand operated windlass 45 attached to the turntable I3 at a point opposite the side over which the skid I5 is extended. Lines 41 for extending the skid I5 wind around the windlass 45 and lead across the turntable I3 through sheaves 48 and are attached tothe inner ends of the skid rails I6. A skid retrieving line 49 is fastened to the outer end of the skid I5 and winds aroundthe windlass 45 in a direction'opposite to the skid extending lines 41. By this arrangement, the turning of the windlass 45 in one direction winds up the retrieving line 49 and unwinds the extending lines 41, thereby retrieving the skid I5. Turning the windlass 45 in the opposite direction similarly brings aboutan extension of the skid I5. 'I'he I Awindlass 45 is hand operated by ahand crank applied t a square ended shaft 50.

Adjacent to the tional hand operated windlass I for propelling the carriage I1 which is operated in a like manner by applying a crank to a shaft 52. Both windlasses 45 and 5I are preferably driven through Worm gears disposed Within the casings 54 and are therefore locked against movement except when power is applied to their operating shafts. A carriage line 55 for propelling the carriage I1 winds around the carriage windlass 5I several times to frictionally engage the drum, with one end fastened to the inner end of the carriage I1 and the other end leading out and around a sheave 56 mounted on the cross piece 4 3 and attached to the outer end ofthe carriage I1. The windlass 5I operates in the usual manner, winding in one end ofthe line 55 and unwinding windlass 45 there is an addi-l Yits movement the ange rollers i depressing the hydraulic jack 58 and paying out the other end as the windlass 5I is turned. By this arrangement, the carriage I 1 may be moved back and forth by turning the/shaft 52 in one direction or the other.

At the outer end of the skid I5 and preferably near the crosspiece 43 there is provided at 'the underside of each skid rail I6, a hydraulic jack 58 for raising the outer end of the skid. The hydraulic jacks 58 are adapted to be seated on the platform of a container vehicle, as shown in Figs. II, IV and VIII and are controlled by a hydraulic pump 59 mounted on the turntable I3 and connected to the hydraulic jacks 58 by exible tubing 50.

A typical' example of the operation of the container transfer apparatus herein described is as follows: In theevent that it is desired to transfer a container l5 from a car 4 standing onv the track 3 to a trailer 9 disposed atthe other side of the rails 2, the transfer unit I is first moved `along 'the rails 2 to a position abreast of the particular container 5 which it is desired `to shift. The operator then elevates the turntable I 3 of the transfer unit I to a level slightly above the ioor 62 of .hydraulic jacks I2.- By applying the crank handle to the nut shaped end 32 of the shaft 3i, the turntable I3, is rotatedY until it assumes a position transverse to the rails 2. Thenby applying the the container vehicle 4. ,Inasmuch as the windlass 45 is driven# through worm gearing, the skid I5 will be held in its extended position. The operator then applies the same crank handle to the operating shaft 52 then be sloped downward fromthe car 4 toward the turntable I3, and this obviously reduces the angle corresponding to the slope of the skid rails I6 by operatingthe hydraulic pumps 22.

` all is in readiness to transfer the container onto the. turntable I3, the carriage I 1 is through operation of the windlass 5I propelled Incident to I1 will roll freely oif the inner ends of the skid rails I5 onto the rolling surfaces I9 of the turntable I3. Y s

When the container 5 has been thus positioned on the turntable' I3, the skid I5 is lowered by to the Doi/nt where the ro1lers`34 at the outer end of the skid again rest upon the car platform 52, Fig. VIII. The skid I5 is then retrieved or returned to its I 8 of the-carriage by the jack 58 and the carriage II with the con-l tainer 5 thereon is transferred to the iioor of the It will be understood that.

trailer vehicl`eFig. III. the container is supported in a raised position on the door of the trailer'vehicle so that by operation of the hydraulic jack 58 at the end of the skid `I5 the load can be transferred from the carriage I1 to the container supports on the trailer vehicle.

If it is desired to transfer a container from the railway car 4 to the station platform B, this movement can be accomplished in the manner similar `to the carto truck transfer. Furthermore, cntainers 5a from the car 4a on the track 3a'may obviously be shifted by the apparatus of this invention to the trailer vehicle 8, to the car 4, or to the platform 5 as desired.

It will be apparent that the container transfer` apparatus of our invention is extremely flexible in its operation and may be employed in many different ways from those herein to shift containers laterally from one elevate'dplatform to another. It will also be observed that the skid I5 and its carriage I1 are normally maintained within the confines of the main frame 9 of the transfer unit so that the unit may be safely operated in a position alongside a railway track without danger of any of its parts striking vehicles moving on the railway track.

lWhile our invention hasbeen described in some detail with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, various changes in the form of the apparatus vare contemplated, and such changes should not be deemed to constitute a departure from the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1.4 Transfer apparatusl for railway containers comprising a movable frame, a revolvable turntable mounted on said frame and having a trackway formed thereon, a skid movable on said turntable and adapted to be extended outwardly. thereof to provide rails in continuation of said trackway, and a container supporting carriage mounted for. movement on said trackway and skid.

2. Transfer apparatus for `railway containers trackway,` elevating means attached to the outer end of said skid and adapted for engagement with a container carrying platform, and a container supporting carriage mounted for movement on said trackway and skid.

3. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising a movable frame, a revolvable and vertically movable turntable mounted on said frame and having a'trackway formed thereon, means for elevating and depressing-the turntable, an extensible skid mounted on said turntable and adapted when extended to provide rails in continuation of said trackway, jacking means attached to the outer end of said skid and adapted for engagement with a container carrying plat- 75 l is then moved along the particularly described form, and a carriage mounted for movement on said trackway and skid.

4. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising a wheeled frame, vertically adjustable supports mounted on the frame, a platform mounted on the adjustable supports, a revolvable turntable mounted on the platform and having a trackwayl formed thereon, an extensible skid mounted on said turntable and adapted when extended to provide rails in continuation of said trackway, jacking means attached to the outer end of said skid, and a carriage mounted for movement on said trackway and skid.

5. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising a wheeled frame, a. revolvable turntable mounted on said frame and having a trackway formed thereon, an extensible skid mounted on said turntable and adapted when extended to provide rails in continuation of said trackway, jacking means attached to the outer end of sald skid for adjustably supporting the same on a container carrying platform, means mounted on said frame and having a flexible connection to said jacking means for controlling the raising and depressing of said skid, and a carriage mounted for movement on said trackway and skid.

6. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising a wheeled frame, a revolvable turn- .table mounted on said frame and having a trackway formed thereon, independent means for elevating each side of the turntable, an extensible Y skid mounted onlsaid turntable and adapted when extended to provide rails in continuation of said trackway, means on said turntable for moving said skid to extendedand retracted positions, and a carriage movable on said trackway and skid.

7. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising a wheeled frame, a revolvable turntable mounted on said frame and having a trackway formed thereon, an extensible skid in the form of rails normally housed within the turntable and beneath the running surfaces of' the trackway and adapted to be projected outwardly from said turntable to form a continuation of said running surfaces, and a carriage movable on said trackway and 'skid rails.

8. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising, in combination with a track for container vehicles and a second track parallel therewith, a wheeled frame movable on said second track, a revolvable turntable mounted on said frame and having a trackway formed thereon, a skid movable on said turntable and adapted to be extended outwardly thereof to a position overlying said rst track and when thus extended providing rails in continuation of said trackway,

' and a container supporting carriage mounted for movement on said trackway and skids.

9. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising in combination with a track for container vehicles and a second track parallel therewith, a wheeled frame movable on said second track, a revolvable turntable mounted on said frame and having a trackway formed thereon, a skid movable on said turntable and adapted to be extended outwardly thereof and when thus extended providing rails in continuation of said trackway, elevating means attached to the outer end of said skid and adapted for engagement with the platform of a container vehicle on said rst track, and a container supporting carriage mounted for movement on said trackway and skids.

10. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising in combination with a vehicle having a platform and a container spaced above said platform, a wheeled frame adapted to be positioned alongside said vehicle, a skid normally housed within said frame and extensible outwardly thereof, a carriage movable on said skid,

said skid and carriage being adapted to enter into the space between the platform of the container vehicle and the bottom of a container thereon, and jacking means adapted to be interposed between said platform and the outer end of said skid.

11. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising in combination `with a vehicle having a platform and a container spaced above said platform, a wheeled frame adapted to be positioned alongside said vehicle, a table mounted on said frame, means for elevating and depressing said table to levels above and beneath the platform of the container vehicle, a skid normally housed within the confines of said table and extensible outwardly thereof, a carriage movable on said skid, said skid and carriage being adapted to enter into the space between the platform of the container vehicle and the bottom of a container thereon, and jacking means adapted to be interposed between said platform and the outer end of said skid.

12. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising in combination with a vehicle having a platform and a container spaced above said platform, a wheeled frame adapted to be positioned alongside said vehicle, a turntable mounted on said frame and having a trackway formed thereon, a skid normally housed within said turntable and extensible outwardly thereof, a carriage movable on said skid, said skid and carriage being adapted to enter into the space between the platform of the container vehicle and the bottom of a container thereon, means on said wheeled frame for extending and retrieving said skid, and additional means on said wheeled frame for moving said carriage on said skid.

13. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising a movable frame, a revolvable turntable mounted on said frame and having a trackway formed thereon, a-skid movable on said turntable and adapted to be extended outwardly thereof to provide rails in continuation of said trackway, means on the turntable for extending and retrieving the skid; and a container supporting carriage mounted for movement on said trackway and skid.

14. Transfer apparatus for railway containers comprising in combination with a vehicle having a platform and a container spaced above said platform, a wheeled frame adapted to be positioned alongside said vehicle, a turntable mounted on said frame and having a trackwayformed thereon, a skid normally housed within said table and extensible outwardly thereof, a carriage movable on said skid, said skid and carriage being adapted to enter into the space between the platform of the container vehicle and the bottom of a container thereon, means on said turntable for extending and retrieving said skid, and means on said wheeled frame for moving said carriage on said skid.

FREDERICK W. HANKINS. FREDERICK K. FILDES. 

